About Me

Dr. Richard Johnston is an Associate Professor in the Materials Research Centre, Swansea University, a 2013 British Science Association Media Fellow (based at Nature), and a 2015 Software Sustainability Institute Fellow.

Embracing a multidisciplinary approach, Richard's research has taken him from artificial intelligence in manufacturing, through gas turbine materials (abradables, nickel superalloys, ceramic matrix composites), and on to X-ray microtomography. He leads the X-ray Imaging group at Swansea, and chairs the Swansea University Research Forum (SURF) Executive Group. He is also Co-Director of the Materials Academy and sits on the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining Education Committee, in addition to devising the #ResearchAsArt Awards and PI of the outreach and engagement programme Materials: Live.

Research grant capture as PI or Co-I of over £20Million since 2014, and is Co-Director of the £9M EPSRC/WG-funded Advanced Imaging of Materials (AIM) centre. Richard is an advocate of collaboration, and a champion of public engagement with research.

Richard has written for Nature, Scientific American, The Guardian, Huffington Post, and has worked on TV documentaries with the BBC (Rhys Jones’ Wildlife Patrol) and Horizon (Animal Mummies).

Gardner, S.,Li, W.,Coleman, M. & Johnston, R. (2016). The effects of thermomechanical history on the microstructure of a nickel-base superalloy during forging. Materials Science and Engineering: A 668, 263-270.

Investigation of the corrosive/erosive effects of macrophage on implant materials 2012

SURF Seminar series 2013

Research as Art is a University-wide initiative that aims to develop the engagement skills of students and staff, fertilise cross-disciplinary collaboration, raise the profile of Swansea research and its researchers, and make the University a better place to study and work.The project provides a unique mechanism of accessible outreach for all research, displaying the important and far-reaching work, and also the human aspect and emotion of research that goes on at Swansea University to a diverse and new audience.

This image won the Early Career Researcher award in Swansea University’s 2013 Research as Art competition. Engineer Matt Carnie explains that these solar cells from failed experiments represent a notion familiar in science – that “behind every success there are many times when things didn’t quite go according to plan".

An innovative Swansea University outreach and engagement project, which introduces the wonder of materials science and engineering to entertain, enthuse and educate potential scientists and engineers of the future. Materials Live! forms a critical component of the “Materials Academy” at Swansea; a large project that delivers multi-level materials research and training.

…is an art/science/tech collaboration between Rich and local photo artist Naomi Bowey, exploring the effects objects have on our behaviour – looking at forms of collection, archiving and the compulsive act of hoarding. Naomi details the processes involved in conceiving, modifying, and ultimately producing a piece for exhibition at here other website

Research

Research at the JohnstonLab in Swansea University typically covers a number of diverse fields, but is primarily focussed on characterisation of structures using X-Ray Microtomography. The group has experience investigating many varied materials, from plant and biological specimens, to dense superalloys.

We have a focus on biomimetics and bioinspiration. Using X-Ray CT to investigate the hidden internal worlds of nature, and thinking about how and why these structures formed. We then look for challenging engineering applications that could benefit from the inspiration gained from these natural architectures. Utilising 3D-printing, we can create rapid replicas or prototypes of previously hidden structures found via X-ray CT, demonstrated on an everyday object.

The group also researches aerospace materials, focussing on the destructive and non-destructive characterisation of abradable coatings, ceramic-matrix-composites, and nickel-based superalloys among others. Corrosion studies of zinc and steel alloys are also ongoing.

Also, the group has expertise in applying artificial intelligence to a number of areas including manufacturing, process optimisation, creep of metals, and sports performance.

The underlying ethos behind work at JohnstonLab is that we are passionate about interdisciplinary and collaborative research; and the excitement and energy that working with researchers from very different fields can provide.

Current Research Projects include:

Nature’s Hidden Worlds – Investigating internal architectures within nature via X-ray microtomography. The aim is to consider the function of natural structures non-destructively, using 3-dimensional data to optimise the engineering and design of structures at varying length scales. Evolutionary optimisation, biomimetics, and bioinspiration leading to improved engineering. With PhD student Laura North @Loobags87

Abradable Coating Materials – The aim of this research project is to study numerous mechanical characterisation technologies to further understand how abradable coatings behave. This data will also feed into a model that has been constructed to help predict abradable material life times in service. With PhD student Dan Moyle @DanMoyle8 and in collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc.

Gas Turbine Superalloys – The aim of this project is to develop optimum forming and heat treatment routes for selected casing and bolting alloys in gas turbines – in particular, ring rolling of Nickel-based superalloys. With EngD student Sam Gardner and in collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc.

Laser Ultrasonics – Investigating laser ultrasonics and their application to additive manufacturing. With PhD student Simon Garner and in partnership with TWI.

Providing new model organisms for biomedical research: The tale of molluscs, mice and men – Collaborative project with Dr Anwen Williams (Cardiff University) and Dr Andrew Davies (Bangor University) to investigate the feasibility of molluscs as new model organisms for bone.

Arthritis Research – Collaborating with Anwen Williams (Cardiff University) on her arthritis project and investigating new ways of characterising arthritic features.

Structure-Property Relationships in Biomaterials – Collaborating with Dr Michelle Oyen (Cambridge University) on a number of themes, materials, and species to investigate the physical architecture of natural materials and their mechanical properties.